My 10-month old terrier is a very well-behaved little dog. She has a little rope toy that she likes to chase when I throw it. She is never mouthy except when I try to take the rope toy back for another toss. She almost always puts her teeth on my hand, not biting or snapping, but definitely getting her mouth around my hand with an occasional scratch. On other occasions she'll tug at the rope and growl a little.

Playing with the rope is the only time that she ever gets mouthy or growls at anyone, and I am the only one that plays with her in this way. My wife doesn't have much interaction with the dog and we don't have kids.

I'm just wondering...
- Is this mouthiness part of the play, or is she defending her toy? She doesn't display any dominance behaviors that I've seen. If it's play, I will allow it, otherwise no. At 10 months I guess she's past the normal mouthy age.
- Is it something that could grow more agressive over time and lead to actual bites?
- Is the growling while tugging something that I should allow? Again I assume it's just a play behavior since she never has growled at me or anyone else at any other time. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I think it is more and issue of stress because she is afraid you are taking the toy away from her and not from aggressive behaviour, she needs to understand that it is ok to release the toy, you might want to train the out, don't pull on the toy when training the out and as soon as she release throw it again or resume play so she will understand that it is a game to release and there is nothing to be stress about.

As a terrier owner for the past 25+ yrs, I play tug all the time but I don't allow contact on my hands. The tug is mine, the rules are mine. It doesn't take them long to realize the game will stop if contact is made. My 19yr old son, on the other hand, thinks it's "neat" when the JRT grabs hold of his hand and growls. It's their own form of game and both understand their own rules. With my grandkids, NOTHING but a wet tongue better come out of their mouth. The dogs learn the difference. It's the owners that usually can't figure it out. Terriers are often very vocal and mouthy. It could very well get worse if you don't make rules for the game. You only play tug when YOU want to. The tug is taken away when not playing. It is NOT the property of the dog. You can't let the dog start the game. Contact stops the game!

Forgot to add. When the dog puts it's mouth on you, give a big "OUCH, NO", then stop.

I don't think I understand the situation?

You are reaching for the toy and the the dog is also reaching for it and catching your hand?

Will you explain exactly what you and the dog are doing when this happens?

The dog retrieves the toy and brings it back. I go to take the toy, after she's dropped it on the ground, and she goes for it when she sees me trying to get it. That's when the mouthiness occurs. The tugging takes place when I go to take the toy when it's still in her mouth.

Problem solved. . .move faster. LOL


Just kidding, this is pretty common. You could try to end the behavior by correcting the dog when this happens. This wouldn't be my choice.

A better option is to teach the dog to do something else and keep doing it when you reach for the toy. A sit, for example.

Another option is to teach the dog an out, which might be more direct. The dog learns to drop something, and leave it. . .not to touch it again till you say ok.

There are tons of articles on training an out available on the web.

Behavior wise, it is "I'm going to get my toy before you take it again."

What I do with my dog when playing fetch is use the bait and switch trick. For TRAINING this only take a small chewy treat in your hand when you go to grab the toy and give it to your dog just before you grab the toy. The dog should be distracted long enough for you to grab the toy without getting your hands chewed on. Once your dog can do it with a treat well start holding back the treats once or twice at a time, then more and more as your dog gets better. Eventually you will get the problem solved.